Randie's Round Table

Producer, publicist and Emcee Randie Levine-Miller is a vivacious redhead who once asked me to sing at an annual benefit she organizes for Actor's Temple and we've been buddies ever since. She likes to throw regular lunches at Sardi's for a hand picked group of show-type folk and there is an interesting rule. No private conversations. She asks each person to speak about themselves to the whole table and that way we all learn something about all the guests. Surprisingly, it works very well and we all had a terrific time.

First up was Jenny Lyn Bader, the daughter of legendary playwright Joseph Stein (FIDDLER, RAGS, ZORBA, MR. WONDERFUL, TAKE ME ALONG) and glamorous film actress Elissa Loti, and a successful playwright herself.

Jim Taylor is a journalist who reminded me that he had interviewed me in my dressing room at the Palace when I was in full slap.

Cary Hoffman started out as a Catskills comic, opened a Comedy Club with his late wife, the comedienne Suzanne Astor (NEW FACES OF 1968), became a booking agent and latterly created a successful one man show called MY SINATRA

He was tremendously touched that I could remember and sing his wife's big comedy song from NEW FACES, "I'm Hungry"

Critic and journalist Brian Scott Lipton writes for Theatremania, Broadway.Com and many other theatre sites.

Broadway star Beth Fowler played Hugh Jackman's mum in THE BOY FROM OZ and was the original Mrs. Potts in BEAUTY & THE BEAST. She was a Liedersinger in the original A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, one of the leads in BABY and Mrs. Lovett in SWEENEY TODD at Circle in the Square. She's now finding tv fame in ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK. She told us that her first show was the one-performance Broadway flop GANTRY with Robert Shaw and she played two previews without rehearsal as understudy to the star Rita Moreno who watched from the audience!!

Next to her is former press agent and David Merrick employee Josh Ellis who is currently performing a one-man show about his many years as handler to the stars. Longing to see THAT one!

And the inimitable Marilyn Michaels. Inimitable because she spends all her time imitating other people!

Marilyn is most famous for her deadly and hilarious impressions which she lapses into at the drop of a beret, almost unconsciously. Indeed, Carey was so fascinated he started to count them off for the table as the luncheon went on. "She's up to FOURTEEN!"

Marilyn is also a gifted artist and writer and a sensational singer. She played Fanny Brice in the National Company of FUNNY GIRL in 1965 (with Lillian Roth as her mother!)

As Marilyn was leaving someone asked her to please sing a few bars of something. She immediately channeled Connie Francis singing "Who's Sorry Now?" and, even though she was singing very quietly, heads began whipping around at other tables in surprise, so convincing was the sound.

A splendid time was had by all, we didn't want to leave. Thanks, Randie!